JFSOCC

good discussion so far

While I have some strong views on this topic, I'm not going to burn my hands on it

My launcher crashes, all the time, at the same point. no fix no way around it. they've released a faulty product. to boot their forums are down.

One-time on-line activation when you first install. That's enough DRM in my book to make me not want to bother. Or did they change that? no, and I wasn't happy when I found out.

There's no need to get angry. I don't believe that players always know best, and I guess that's where we disagree. While in this example I may or may not be wrong, the point I was trying to make is that it is OK for the devs to decide some things for the player. We might disagree about what specifically. What works as an ideal might not as a reality.

Because we want this game to be fun, not just for us, but for everyone. And while we can't prevent people from ruining their own game (as they are allowed to do), If it's within the power of the game designers to encourage players to play the game in a way that will be more enjoyable for them, why shouldn't they? Wait, so you're telling us that you know better than we do about what is best for us when it comes to having fun? "NO! You're having fun the WRONG WAY! Do this instead you quick saving philistine!" Are you out of your ****ing mind? I think sometimes the devs do know better, yes. Study after study shows that people are really bad at determining what will make them happy. If a player intends to save whenever the game gets a little challenging, then yes, I think I know better, I think the devs know better and they would be well within their rights to protect the integrity of their game and save people from themselves. The problem lies in that there is no clear solution which only works against the exploiting of features, but doesn't punish players who are using features the way they're intended.

This weeks extra credits has something interesting to say about minigames. (not the main topic, but they touch on it) http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/combining-genres

the minigames in the sith lords weren't exactly great. Despite playing a fair bit of pazaak, I don't think they added much to the game. I did somewhat enjoy the turret games but they weren't diverse or hard enough.

Could you provide a source for that estimate? 90% dead seem a bit much even for genocidal conquest. Native Americans had no immunities against diseases that developed in europe, Europeans did because they evolved alongside those diseases.

I'm thinking about keeping track of how often I hear it. "Not for me but optional is fine"

I want pointy hats. I just want to make that clear. pointy hats that say "Wizzard"

just die in hell lucky bathturd hehe, me too you know. never played BG1.

the other downloader works fine though.

I agree, it's a hamfisted attempt. that's not to say there might not be a better solution lurking around though.

I think it's an interesting mechanic, but maybe more apt for alchemy than crafting, because well, with crafting you have a clear goal and a clear requirement list. I would be weirded out if I was trying to craft a sword only to find I could only craft a verdant emerald. I do like the mechanic though, has potential.

I like the idea that anyone significantly powerful enough can ascend to godhood, and each god is different in nature and power and scale.

Despite my practically empty checking account I've bought it. That's Hype for you. Edit: my downloader crashes often and downloads about about 1kb/s

Saving and loading. Simple as that, you cannot "abuse" it. It's single player game. It has nothing to do with difficulty of the game or the experience of the game. If I want to check every dialog option before making my final decision, that's my business. That pretty much sums it up right there. Why do people care so much about how someone else plays a singleplayer game. Because we want this game to be fun, not just for us, but for everyone. And while we can't prevent people from ruining their own game (as they are allowed to do), If it's within the power of the game designers to encourage players to play the game in a way that will be more enjoyable for them, why shouldn't they?

Like the Builders in thief? I'd enjoy a god of lost causes, god of the underdog, and a lady luck. I also thought Terry Pratchett's take on gods (Small gods) was pretty interesting.

I want a god like Q from start track, constantly bored with his omnipotence and therefore constantly trying to find something to entertain him. Whether that's screwing up your day, (like a bored kid using a magnifying glass to burn ants) or manipulating those lesser beings into doing interesting things, or just plainly going around theatres and trying to find the best musicians around, for a quick fix. Doesn't care much about how much the world goes out of whack because of what he does. I used to have a DnD campaign where Olidamara had made a parade through the woodlands of musicians like a marching band. Everyone with some musical talent would have to pass a will save or be swept up and become part of the marching band, where they would play till they dropped dead from exhaustion. This clogged up the main road through the forest, ruined the nights rest for most of nature nearby (loud noise) but produced an amazing spectacle. Non-musicians would need to pass a will save or be enthralled by the music. That's the type of boredom solutions I expect from gods.

It's not about free choice. People don't self regulate. If self regulation worked we'd not have an economic crisis. The psychology of man is to try and pick the most efficient way through. The trick is making sure that it makes more sense to play the game normally than to save whenever it gets tough.

Well, I guess I am a cynic, but I think that a slow death of the Palestinians avoids the pesky accusations of genocide, though the end result is the same.

You have repeated yourself like 6 times now, we get it, you don't want it. So far I've only heard one argument from you.

Answer the question "why do people save games" and you can start answering "How do I discourage someone from save scumming"

seriously impressive.